Door opener



Nov. 16, 1943. J. D.- STROBELL 2,334,452

DOOR OPENER Filed Feb. 20,- 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 58 59 l 1 g se 1i} l55 INVENTOR T 65 John Strobell I v I Y ATTORNEY Nov. 16, 1943. 11- s RoE I 2,334,452

DOOR OPENER Filed Feb. 20, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jo/z'n D.Sirobell I ATTORNEY Nov. 16, 1943.

J. D. STROBELL DOOR OPENER Filed Feb. 20. 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORJohn D. Strobell BY y 6% ATTBfiYS Patented Nov. 16, 1943 This inventionrelates to door operating apparatus and more particularly to automaticdevice for opening and closing a door or the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide door operatingapparatus which is simple, compact and sturdy in construction, and whichis characterized by a-large'ratioof power output to power inputAnotherobject isto provide apparatus of the above naturewhieh-isserviceable over an extended period, without need of adjustment orrepair. Another object isto provide apparatus ofthe above nature capableor being used in a limited space. Qther objects will be impart apparent,and in part pointedout hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangementsef parts as will beexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter deseribed,- and the scopeof the application-"of which-will be indicated in the following claims.

In the drawings, wherein there is shownone embodiment of my invention,Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a door having my operator appliedthereto;

Figure 2 is a top ator;

plan view of door oper- Figure 3 is a front elevation qf my dooropeiator; a v- I Figure3A is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation: ofaportionof my door operator; j

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation'taken along the line 44 ofFigureB; YFigure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section of aportion ofmyoperator; v

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectiona elevation of a portion ofmy operator; 5

Figure '7 is a wiring diagram of the control- .e tui m em @5 1 VIi'igure 8Qis a I section taken along the line 8- 8 of Figure 5. 1

i th ie ei ih r u iiew' ft da ins.

Similar reference cha acters refer't'o similar out that door operatorsof'the character under onsideration are often socciiiiplibated and bulkyand prec1ude"their' practidal eoni mer iai as e. Others require eiidfisili pfiwef ifipl l'fi 85 t0 rbe'une'conomicalin inanyrespect'sl jStill'others are ofsuch a character'that their installation is limited tocerta'in ide'al conditions orlrquire such Constant attention and adjlis'ffiiefitthatifhei' are a source of trouble rather than a" convenience."It

rovide an automatic door opener which obviates theabo'v conditionsfiiiaddition ta oth'eis' e erring torigur'e 1,a'jdbdr 1o is liingedly mbmeabn a wenoraasmg l lfo'r swm'gm movementremtivew an openingthereih'beiowa eeriing l4. Movement 61 th'dobrisefictd 'by"an operatorgeneran indicated at l2 'seblird to wen ll and hydraulically actuatedbya 'pii'i'fip unit nerallj ifidioatdat is located 'ateveeemng r4. "rtsnoiira'te' noted, however, that a nri hiter o'i variationsilii thelocation or operator trend pump unit}: are possitlwnfioutueparufig trainrotations tiieredrjes strow'ri iii Figure '1 are id be (stator 12" friaibe securen enemy to door I u, or may be l'oated above ceirmg' u;Similarly, pump unit l3 may belocate d adjacent to or dis'tant'frofniterator l zyais desired; era dldt atedby available installation eeace'ordtner rectors.

"Withreferehceto lf'iurezi (iterator 12 includes a housin Ql 5 fwhjicnis pref rably an integral castin anq wmcn' has r arm "on tne re-armereorattacumg' presets provi ed with suitable w1h6 1e 1 Y $116 th ri efrfiavcured to door 10f (meurefrr see also Figue 4; the ri'ght jhaiid end ornousrfig 1 s, viewed "in v 'ja in which is reeiprocably disposed}inst-611108 m; cm the righthandena or Whichis' 'se'ttur'e'd'a'pistonzi'l'i'ie left-hand end of rod I9 gummy secure in the temp jra(new 1').

nglyroala 6 thefll eft'. Movement ofpiston rod g5 pybrgd a predetermine'i'sdmtautomatican shuttle?! purii p m t a grignie r) sotfit the "qrqpistonmay rerun; tetn p isition S"w i llfbe described in drinmshaped'casihg 26-or the like Whitlris prer- "ergif y'integrei-vitiibruising 15' an communirates intenofly therewith (sweetie are ten vante-uni" wardly fv omithie bottom of ca's'ir'ig' 2 am snare-2 9. mac

A flanged drum 32 is secured to shaft 29 so asto rotate therewith and onthe flange of. this drum is secured a ring gear 33 as by screws 34 orthe like. The teeth on ring gear 33 mesh with teeth l9a formed on pistonrod I9, the piston rod accordingly constituting a rack, reciprocation ofwhich effects rotation of drum 32 The upper end of and accordingly shaft29.

may be automatically closed by the stored energy in spring 42 uponcessation of power input to operator I2.

With reference to Figure 1, pump unit 13 includes a pump 54 and anoperating motor 55. Motor 55 (Figure '1) is connected to a source ofcurrent 56 by a pair of lines 51 and 58, in the latter of which is arelay controlled switch 59. Aswitch generally indicated at 60 is locatedin operator I2 (Figure 5) and one terminal 6| of this switch (see Figure7) is connected by a line 62 to line 58 and accordingly to one side ofsource 56. The other terminal 63 of the switch is connected by aline 66to one side of a relay 64.

shaft 29 is preferably reduced and is journaled in a ball bearing housedin a suitable boss 36 formed in a cover or cap 31 adjustably mounted onthe top of casing 26. Cover 31 is held in place' by a rabbeted washer orring 38 secured to the top of casing 26 as by screws 39'. Thus, it maybe seen that the upper and lower ends of shaft 29 are effectivelysupported within casing 26 for rotation therein. It may also be seenthat casing cover 31 is rotatable relative to the casing,

and this for a purpose which will be described hereinafter.

Drum 32 is provided with an annular recess 40, cover 31 also includingan annular recess 4| which registers with recess 46 when the cover is inplace. Recesses 49 and 4| house the opposite ends of a torsion spring.42, the lower end 42a of which is secured in any suitable manner todrum 32, and the upper end 42b of which is suitably secured to cover 31;Accordingly, rotation of the cover relative to casing 26 adjusts thetension of spring 42.

As is more clearly shown in Figure 2, the top of cover 31 is providedwith a suitable number of notches 43 or the like, any one of which mayreceive a pawl 44 pivoted as at 45 to casing 26. Hence when-cover 31 isrotated in such a direction as to tension spring42, the covermay be heldin its adjustedposition by the insertion of pawl 44 in one of notches43; -With cover 31 so held, spring 42 (Figure4) is tensioned so as tobias drum 32, and accordingly shaft 23, in a clockwise direction (asviewed in Figure 2) which is the door closing direction of operation ofshaft 29.

As shown in Figure 4, the lower end of shaft 1 29 is preferably squaredso that the bifurcated this roller preferably comprises an inner sleeve5| and an outer sleeve 52. As is better shown in Figure 2, a guide 53 orthe like is secured to door l0, roller 56 being disposed in the guideand acting'on the vertical parallel surfaces thereof to transmit themotion of arm 46 to door I0.

From the above, it will now appear that upon flow of fluid underpressure into cylinder l8 (Fi ure 2) piston rod or rack 19 effectscounterclockwise movement of drum 32 (Figure 4) and accordingly shaft29. This, in turn, causes counterclockwlse movement of door rod 46(Figure 2) which opens the door. During door opening operation of drum32 (Figure 4) spring 42 is tensioned by reason of the relative movementbetween the drum and cover 31. Hence, the door --The other side of relay64 is connected by a line 65 to line 51,'and accordingly to the otherside of source 56. When relay 64 is energized switch 59 is closed, whichcloses the circuit to motor 55 to effect energization thereof to drivepump 54 (Figure 1). The pump forces fluid under pressure through pipe 25into operator l2, as hereinbefore described, to open door I6. When thedoor approaches its open position, switch 66 (Figure 7) is automaticallyopened, aS will be described in detail hereinafter, which breaks thecircuit to relay 64, causing switch 59 to open and accordingly motor 55to stop. This shutting off of the power input into operator l2(Figure 1) permits spring 42 (Figure 4) to close the door, as described.

Referring back to Figure '1, a door or wall switch generallyindicated at61 may be connected across lines 62 and 66, and closing thereof has thesame starting effect on the operator as does closing of switch 66. Aswill be later pointed out, however, switch 60 is held closedautomatically for the larger portion of opening operation of theoperator, and hence opening of tively, and'through these walls extends astud 12 or the like secured to a partition 13 in housing 15. Stud 12 hasa head 14 sufficiently spaced from a collar 15 near the other end of thestud to provide sufilcient clearance for pivotal movement of frame 69about the axis of the stud.

Through the right-hand end of frame 69, as viewed in Figure '5, extendsa stud 16 (Figure 1 8) on which a roller 11 is rotatably mounted. A

pair of friction discs 16 and 19 are fixed to stud 16 on opposite sidesof roller 11, and these discs are clamped about the roller by a bushing86 keyed on stud 16 and biased axially toward the discs by a spring 6|.Spring BI is held in position on the free'end of stud 16 by a nut and Anarm 63 is secured to bushing 89 and hence rotates with stud 16. Aspring-84 is coiled aboutbushing and has one end 85 secured to arm 63,and its other end 86 secured to wall 10 of frame 69, spring 84' being sotensioned as constantly to bias arm 83 counter clockwise'as viewed inFigure 6.

The periphery of roller 11 is preferably milled or knurled and thissurface rides on the upper surface of piston rod or rack l9 (Figure 6)which is similarly .milled.. The right-hand end of frame 69, as viewedin Figure 6, has secured thereto a small bracket81 or the like whichsupports a stud 88 about which a spring 89 is disposed. The upper end ofspring bears against the top of housing 1.5, and its lower ,end :bmrsagainst bracket :81, the spring being of suficient length to biasframeclockwise about ,studlli.

This-bias ofthe frame ifirm'ly engages the milked surface Eofrcller 1:1andpiston rod 19 so that movement of the rod imparts rotation to theroller.

When rod It! moves to the 1efit,.:as:viewed in Figure 5, rol"ler l] ismtated cloclnwise, .as viewed in 6. As the-roller is :clamped :betweenfriction discs 18 and 19 (Figure 5) lthediscs are rotated by the-roller,.-.and :shaft 161s This rotation effects clockwise movement of arm 83(Figure 6) causing the armJto bear against a switch button 80 -to:closethe contacts-of switch -60. The clockwise movement of armji is, .of

course, limited by the extent of movement of which button flll iscapable, and hence continued movement/cf rack $9 in the directioninf-$116 arrow merely causes slippage between roller]?! and frictiondiscs 18 "and I! (Figure 5;).

Piston rod 1Z8 (Figure 6) is providedwith a notch M or the like, whichis so positioned as to ride under roller 11 when the piston rod nearsits-limit of door opening travel. When notch 8| underrides roller 11,the milled surface .of.the roller is freed from the milled surface :ofrod is, 'andthe bias of spring 84 (Figure 5 is .accordingly free tocause counterclockwise movement of arm 83 (Figure --6) which lifts thearm .;from switch button 90 to cause switch 60 to open. Thiscounterclockwise movement of arm is, however, limited by an -adjustablestop 92 secured to wall!!! of frame. It may now be seen, with referenceto Figure '5, -6 and 7, that automatic operation of the door operatormay be instigatedby'an initial, slight, manual opening of door 40, or bymanual operation of door switch 61 (Figure'lu suflicient to move pistonrod 9 to the left (Figure 5) so that the rod may rotate roller"Hsufliciently to cause arm '83 (Figurefi) to close the contactsinswitch 60. When this occurs, pump motor 55 (Figure '7) is energized,as hereinbefore described, and i the door "continues t'o'openautomatically. -When the door nears the limit of its opening movement,notch "91 in rod t9 (Figure 6) underrides roller TI, arm 83 movescounterclockwise @(Figure '6) as hereinbeiore described, this :movement'of the arm permitting the contacts in switch 60 (Figure 7) to open.ThiSyOf course, deenerg izes motor 55, and thedoor is free 'to close byreason of the bias of spring 42 (Figured).

It may accordingly be seen that regardless of the position of the door,theoperator-immediately reacts to a manual impulse imparted to the doorregardless of the direction of the impulse with respect to the openingor closing direction of movement of the door. Hence if the-'door-isgivena slight opening movement, the operator will continue "the openingmovement and automatically stop operationof the pump unit when the dooris fully opened; If the door is closing and is inany position, a lightpush on the door in opening 19 sons to vary the point ln'the-trarvel ofthe rod ill) atr azhich sits notch -91 underrides roller ll. To thisiendaplate 98.,having a slot 94 in the righthand end-thereof (Fizurefi) isadjustablysecured lto frontwaillilll offrame168. A stud .95 (Figure 5)extends wall :10 and through slot 94 -(Figure .16) inplnte 58 andcarries a lock washer '86, whichmay be clamped against the front ofplate? by a .nutt] threaded on the outer end :of studhi; The 'lleftehand.end of plate v93 (Fig- -ure:5') is (secured itostud 12 so asato beimmovable relative thereto, except pivotally. Walls 1-11 and 11 of trame58 have elongated .slots '98 and .99 iormed therein .and'stud Fl!.(Figure5) extends "through these slots. Hence, when not 97 and lockwasher 96 are loosened, walls 10 and H of trame'fi maybe moved relative:to plate .83 as the "plate may slide relative to stud B5 and walls 10and H may slide relative to stud l2, hence permitting adiustment offrame 6-9 longitudinally of piston-rod 19. Thus, roller-H'may bepositioned, asdesired, with respect to notch 8| CFigure .6) in "rod-l8.

It may now be seenthat Ihave provided an automatic door operator whichattains the sev- 'eral objects hereinbefore set forth in a thoroughlypractical and elficien't manner.

' As'many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and asmany changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is tobe understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or'shownin theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. A limit switch for a cyclically operating {mechanism including amember operable in opposite directions for each cycle of operation ofthe mechanism, said switch comprising, in combination, a casingassociated with said member, a frame pivctally mounted in said casingadjacent said f member and movable toward and away [from said member, aroller rotatably mountedin said frame and adapted to engage said {memberfor rotation thereby in one direction or the other as said member moves,a switch mounted in said casing adjacent said roller, means operated bysaid roller'during rotation thereof in one direction for closing saidswitchjand a spring operatively associated with said switch closingmeans for biasing said switch closing means in switch opening directionwhereby said switch opens upon rotation 'of said roller in the oppositedirection.

2. A limit switch for a tyclically operating mechanism including amemberoperable in opposite directions for each cycle of operation of themechanism, said switch comprising, in combina-.

tion, a casing associated with said member, ,a frame'pivotally mountedin said casing adjacent said member and movable'toward and away fromsaid member, spring means for biasing said frame "towar'djsaid member, aroller "rotatably mounted "in said frameand adapted to engage saidmember for rotation therebyin one direction or the other as saidmember;moves, a switch mounted in said casing adjacent said roller,means operated by :sa'idroller during rotationthereof in one direction*for closing said switch, and a spring operatively associated with saidswitch closing .means for biasing said switch closing means in switchopening direction whereby said switch opens upon rotation ofsaid roller"in the opposite direction.

3. A limit switch for a cyclically operating mechanism including amemberopera'ble in opposite directions for each-cycle "of operation ofthe mechanism, said switch comprising, in combination, a casingassociated with said member, a shaft rotatably'mounted in said casingadjacent said member, a roller rotatably mounted on said shaft andadapted to engage said member to be rotated in opposite directionsthereby upon operation thereof, clutch means associated with said shaftand said .roller and operable to eflect a driving relationship betweensaid roller and said shaft whereby rotation of said roller causesrotation of said shaft, 3, switch mounted in said casing adjacent saidroller, and means connected to said shaft so as to be rotated therebyand operatively associated with said switch for closing said switch uponrotation of said roller in one direction and foropening said switch uponrotation of said member in the opposite direction.,

4. A limit switch for a cyclically operating mechanism including amember operable in opposite directions for each cycle of operation ofthe mechanism, said switch comprising, in combination, a casingassociated with said member, an element rotatably mounted in said casingand adapted to engage said member for rotation in opposite directionsthereby, a clutch disc rotatably mounted in said casing adjacent saidelement, spring means for urging said disc against said element to bedriven thereby, an arm connected to said clutch disc and movable in onedirection or the other depending upon the direction of rotation of saidelement, and a switch mounted in said casing adjacent said arm andclosable and openable thereby depending upon the direction of operationthereof.

5. A limit switch for a cyclically operating mechanism including amember operable in opposite directions for each cycle of operation ofthe mechanism, said switch comprising, in combination, a casingassociated with said member, an element rotatably mounted in said casingand adapted to engage said member for rotation in opposite directionsthereby, a clutch disc rotatably mounted in said casing adjacent saidelement, spring means for urging said disc against said element to bedriven thereby, an arm connected to said clutch disc and movable in onedirection or the other depending upon the direction of rotation of saidelement, a switch mounted in said casing adjacent said arm and closableand openable thereby depending upon the direction of operation thereof,and spring means for biasing said arm in switch opening direction. a

6. A limit switch for a cyclically operating mechanism including amember operable in opposite directions for each cycle of operation ofthe mechanism, said switch comprising, in combination, a casingoperatively associated with said member, an element rotatably mounted insaid casing in frictional engagement with said member and adapted to berotated in one direction or the other thereby except when injuxtaposition to a notch formed in said member, a switch mounted in saidcasing adjacent said element and including a closing and opening button,means operatively associated with said element for pressing said switchbutton to its closed position during rotation of said element in onedirection, and a spring for biasing said means away from said switchbutton when said element and notch are juxtaposed to open said switch.

7. A limit switch for a cyclically operating mechanism including amember operable in opposite directions for each cycleof operation of themechanism, said switch comprising, in combination, a casing operativelyassociated with said member, an element rotatably mounted in said casingin frictional engagement with said member and adapted to be rotated inone direction or the other thereby except when in juxtaposition to anotch formed in said member, a switch mounted in said casing adjacentsaid element and including a. closing and opening button, meansoperatively associated with said element for pressing said switch buttonto its closed position. during rotation of said element in onedirection, a spring for biasing said means away from said switch buttonwhen said element and notch are juxtaposed to open said switch, andmeans for varying the position of said element and'said switch relativeto said notch to control at will the time of switch opening by reason ofthe juxtaposition of said element and said notch.

8. A limit switch for a cyclically operating mechanism including amember operable in opposite directions for each cycle of operation ofthe mechanism, saidtswitch comprising, in comioination, a casingoperatively associated with said member, an element rotatably mounted insaid casing in engagement with said member and adapted to rotate in onedirection or the other depending upon the direction of operation of saidmember, a switch mounted in said casing adjacent said element, an armpivotally mounted in said casing in operative association with saidswitch and movable in one direction relative thereto to close saidswitch and in another direction to open said switch, said rotatableelement comprising a clutch member, and a second clutch member connectedto said arm and engageable with said first-mentioned clutch member formoving said arm in switch closin direction upon rotation of said elementin one direction and for opening said switch upon rotation of saidelement in the opposite direction.

9. A limit switch for a cyclically operating mechanism including amember operable in opposite directions for each cycle of operation ofthe mechanism, said switch comprising, in combination, a casingoperatively associated with said member, an element rotatably mounted insaid casing in engagement with said member and adapted to rotate in onedirection or the other depending upon the direction of operation of saidmember, a switch mounted in said casing adjacent said element, an armpivotally mounted in said casing in operative association with saidswitch and movable in one direction relative thereto to close saidswitch and in another direction to open said switch, said rotatableelement comprising a clutch member, a second clutch member connected tosaid arm and engageable with said first-mentioned clutch member formoving said arm in switch closing direction upon r0- tation of saidelement in one direction and for opening said switch upon rotation ofsaid element 7 in the opposite direction, and spring means for forcingsaid second clutch member into engagement with said first clutch member.

10. A limit switch for a cyclically operating mechanism including amember operable in opposite directions for each cycle of operation of Vthe mechanism, said switch comprising, in comcent said element, an armpivotaliy mounted in said casing in operative association with saidswitch and movablein one direction relative thereto to close said switchand in another'direction to open said switch, said rotatable elementcomprising a clutch member, a second clutch member connected to said armand engageable with said first-mentioned clutch member for moving saidarm in switch closing direction upon rotation of said element in onedirec-

